Dwight Howard on Dunk Contest: ‘I’m Retired for Life’

Howard and his prop-filled aerial show have apparently been grounded for life, as FanHouse reports: “I’m retired for life,’ Orlando center Dwight Howard said. Howard won the event in 2008 in New Orleans with a variety of innovative dunks, including one in which he donned a Superman cape. He finished second in Phoenix in 2009 to Nate Robinson before electing not to compete last season. He won’t be competing Feb. 19 in Los Angeles during All-Star Weekend nor ever again. ‘I don’t want to do it,’ Howard, 25, said after the Magic practiced at the Pepsi Center on Monday in preparation for Tuesday’s game against Denver. ‘I want to let other people have an opportunity to shine. I (have done) the dunk contest too many times. I’m over with it … I do too much running and jumping during the season,’ Howard said of the extra wear and tear of competing in the contest. ‘By the time the dunk contest comes around, my legs are as beat as anything.'”